A few pics from this weeks guided adventures

The Snohomish system (for the most part) is officially closed and its too bad…, as the last couple of weeks we experienced some great steelhead action.  It would be nice if they could change the regulations to selective gear, catch and release fishing…, so we could at the least fish.   I will be back out on this system for Summer run steelhead and King salmon starting the first Saturday in June.

With the all the river closures I will be focusing my next two months of guiding on the Wynoochie/Satsop and Cowlitz rivers.  It is aslo time to break out my drift boat and if the rivers are anything like the  years of past, we are in for some GOOD winter run steelheading for the next couple of months.  This is by far my favorite time in the steelhead cycle, as your next cast might just be the fish of a life Time.  Like Kyle’s monster fish, pictured below, caught right before the closures.  I have open dates available…, lets go catching

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

Ps.  If you missed it, check out Hawg Quest replays, my first episode was on aire Sunday the 17th.

Pss.  The fishing is really good right now, give me a call

The above pics are from this weeks guide trips

A river fisherman is never happy…, rivers are to high…, too low…,  etc,  etc.  Right now every river in Washington is at the least…, fish-able.  Some are low and some are in perfect condition. Which means its time to get out there and take advantage of the low water and your opportunity to fish. 

 Now that February is upon us, expect the start of  BIG native Steelhead to enter into our river systems.   Up size your baits a bit, stronger line and leader, fish cover, and deeper heavier currents for these brutes.  They have a little bit of a different ticker in comparison to their hatchery brat cousins. 

I have been out fishing quite a bit of late and the Steelhead just keep on coming.  This week we averaged 3 hook ups a trip.  Surprisingly…, all of the fish were bright, late, hatchery fish, except one really nice Native.   February and March are historically the prime time Native Steelhead months.  Now is the time to get a hold of me for your best chance at a fish of a life time and the last time I checked the calendar…, it read February!!  :-) 

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

Ps.  Check out Jerome Jefferson at “By the River” Fish and Tackle in Fall City, WA

I can’t believe January is already half way done…, how the time flys by!  Its almost NATIVE season!!!!!  On the fishing front… Steelhead continue to trickle into our west side rivers.  We are starting to get into that “No Man’s Land” time of the winter steelhead season now.  The early run hatchery fish are starting to wain and the first Native Steelies are showing themselves.  The fish are still there just don’t EXPECT to go out and catch double digits at press time. 

I have been out on the water this week and we are still putting hatchery winter runs in the box.  Side drifting is the method and good bait is the key.   I am going to start focusing more and more on the Trophy Native fish.  If you want the chance at a fish of a life time February-April is the time for Western, Wa Steelhead.  Get a hold of me and lets get you a date on the river before its too late.   

Enjoy the pics below from this weeks guide trips

 Fetha Styx is coming out with a Mid Price range (around $175 a stick) set of rods and I…, along with my clients have been out testing them for the past month, or so.  I can’t wait to see the overall public opinion for the Northwest Premier Guide Series.  The folks I’ve had the pleasure to fish with, really enjoyed their light weight, sensitivity and ability to add a great fight to the fish.  These rods are simply fantastic for the price, warranty, and the Fetha Styx name (Remember they are built here, locally in Redmond, WA).  If your a side drifter, the 961 and 962 versions are the cats meow!!  Hopefully they will be available sometime around the end of April.

Get off the couch…, give me a call…, quit wish’n and lets go fish’n!!!! 

Ps   Check out Hawg Quest, Todd Daniels is the guide on the current episode.  Nice work on a good show todd!

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

425-281-8772

Happy New Year to one and all!  I have been fishing for winter steelhead all over the State for the past two weeks.  From freezing temps, to rain, to wind, to rising temps, and snow level  fluctuations…, a fisherman needs to be versatile to be successful day in and day out.  Pay attention to river fluctuations, in the end it will pay dividends.  A moving river means moving fish.  With that stated, we have been very successful through all December’s river fluctuations.  If you want to catch a winter steelhead give me a call and we will go from there.  We are on them right now! 

 After this next storm passes and the rivers start to drop…, I fully expect there to be another nice surge of hatchery steelhead to be had for the barbeque and the start of early winter run natives to play with.  It is not too early to start booking for prime native winter steelhead and late run hatchery steelhead.  Let’s go fishing!

I have been on the Cowlitz and Chehalis systems and then moving back and forth to the Snohomish system.  Side drifting bait has been my preferred method of choice.  After looking back on my December fishing log we averaged over 3 steelhead a day in the boat, with the best days being in the double digits…, not too bad  

Below are some pics from this week.  Thanks again to everyone whom I fished with in 2009 what a great year of fishing and catching it was!!! 

Tip of the week: DO NOT marry a particular hole, or river.  Be willing to move depending on the river conditions.

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

425-281-8772

Ps  Gift Certificates are available

The full swing of winter steelhead is here. The middle of the month we had some of the coldest temps you would want to fish in (pushing single digets inthe morning) But those who were willing were rewarded with some fantastic fishing. One of my most favorite moments is getting to watch some of  my clients catch there very first steelhead,That is something quite special, and we have had the chance to do that a lot lately.Now the temps have moderated as well as the river levels. The snohomish river system has picked up lately as well as well as the cowlitz. look for the Chalais system’s to kick in to gear any time now as well. It’s not to early to start thinking SPRINGERS A predicted run of 470,000 in to the Columbia should be an awesome fishing season. Mean time still plenty of Steelhead to be had. Give me a call

Its been down right frigid out on the rivers…, but there is nothing like a little winter steel to warm a fellow right up!  The winter run steelhead season is in full swing.  The Bogy/Calawah hatchery brats are there for the taking.  The Chehalis system is kicking out late run coho and fresh winter steelhead.  The Sky and Snoqualmie river have picked up in recent days with the “warmer” weather.  The Cowlitz and Lewis are getting a shot of Steelies, as well.  Also, lots of other “NO Name” rivers are kicking out fish.

With the upcoming rains expect a big surge of Steelhead to all the hatchery sections of our Western, WA and  Coastal, WA Rivers.  The tributaries off the main stem rivers should also see a push of fresh, chrome fish.  Basically now is the time to go fish your favorite spots for winter steel.   The fish are in the river right now…, go catch them.

If your one of those guys who is fishing the shore and your looking to score a few more fish and learn more of the river system…, give me a call and lets go catching.  I have been doing very well of late with limits being the norm.  Get your favorite 3-4 close friends, or family members and lets do it.  Fish-ON!…, that is.  Merry Christmas to all.  Quit wish’n and let’s go fishing.

Below are a few pics from this weeks trips

Merry Christmas and Tight lines,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

Ps    ****Check the website for our X-mas gift certificate special****

Well The Cold of December has definitely set in. On Sunday we fished lk.washington and the temps were in the low 30′s and a 15 mph wind,but the large cutties are starting to show up in good #’s cutplug herring is my favorite go to this time of year set on the downrigger between 20 to 40 feet. When the rives allow us to get on them there are still  some chum up higher in the snohomish system we have been averaging 20 to 50 fish a day but that is fading fast with the first arrivals of steelhead!! many people  just about loose there minds chasing these sometimes elusive animals,But what you are rewarded with is something that only few others can understand. I have been chasing these “steelhead” for over 30 years and Know how to get in to them pretty damn good. so if you want to get out to go catch some out of my HEATED  boat give me a call.

Mother Nature sure has made the river fisherman’s life tough of late with flucuating water levels.  In for half a day and out for another. Chums are definitely here…, also with all this cold weather and higher water, brings signs of Winter Steelhead back into our local Puget Sound Rivers.   We even landed a few winter runs this week on the Snohomish system.  I sure hope these first fish are a sign of good things to come!    Whom ever does the fish return predictions has this winter run predicated to be very good!  I am already almost fully booked up for the month of December.  Get a date before its to late.

OH…,and I got tired of the weather around here messing up the river clarity, so a few of us packed up and headed east for a shot at the record return of steelhead over lower granite dam.  To say the least…, the fishing was off the HOOK!  We managed to hook a fish every thirty minutes and it was my first time over there  in my own boat.  Not to bad. 

Enjoy the pics from last week

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bonnerfishon.com

425-281-8772

Ps  !!!!Save the Snoqualmie River Summer Run Steelhead, Write your congressman!!!!

With the Big rains of November we have had to move around  quite a bit. but there are still coho to be had as well as many  chum to catch till your arms fall off. This is one of my favorite times of year, you just don’t know what is on the end of your line. there are reports of early winterrun steelhead in both the skykomish as well as the cowlitz.  When The rivers are to bad to fish we have been on both lk.Sammamish and lk.Washington getting some really nice cutthroat to 7 lb’s so far.  Give me a call still have some dates available!!!

Here we go again…, with mother nature and her rain’s.  The rivers are up one day and down the next…, at least the free flowing rivers anyways.  Cowlitz river will be the place to be this weekend if your itching to go fishing.  I fully expect the rivers to blow out this weekend, but we will see. 

With all this water comes the fish!  Remember high water…, fish high in the river system.  The Silvers are on the move.  As you can see from the below pictures…, lots of  happy faces and some damp, happy faces.  When the going gets tough…, the tough get going ( Rain gear makes me tough).  Coho are here and if you would like to catch one before the season ends give me a call ASAP.  Looking at the calendar …, Winter Steelhead season is almost upon us…, don’t be late to get a prime date!     

Enjoy the pics

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bonnerfishon.com

425-281-8772

Ps   **** Save Tokul Creek’s Summer Run Steelhead Plants ****  Write Your Congressman ****